Tips for Using HR Software to Save Your Business Money

Mila Jones

Mar 02, 2019

Every business wants to save money. The good news is that the world is full of strategies that help you do just that. One of the most effective ways of saving money is by investing in the right software. From all the different business departments and functions you might have, Human Resources (HR) software is definitely the best way to cut down costs.

The simple reason HR software for SMEs is so effective at saving money comes down to automation and wider access. The modern HR software is all about removing the need to perform repetitive tasks, allowing more access to workers and HR professionals, and collecting and analysing vast amounts of data. This results in systems that help your business save time and money – after all, time is also money!

Of course, simple buying HR software for your business won’t necessarily work. You must know what makes HR software for SMEs worthy of your money and be able to put it to good use. Here are a few tips that could help your business save money with the right HR software and to help your HR department with value creation.

Choosing the right HR software

The main thing is to focus on finding the right HR software for SMEs. There are numerous options out there and not all of them are as good as the others. So how can you guarantee you find the right software? You must consider the following three things:

1. Pick functions you need

In fact, you should only pick the functions you need and forget about those you don’t. There is no point in spending money on features your business does not need. The way to pick the required functions will be easy, as long as you understand your business’ unique HR challenges.

In addition, you want to compare different HR software for SMEs to get an idea of what’s available. When you’re comparing software, consider the features and all the things your business could solve with them. You also have to be careful with the price! Make sure to understand the full price of the product in order to avoid hidden fees.

2. Focus on integration

In order to save money with your HR software, you have to choose a product that offers integration. To get the most benefits out of your software, you will need it to be able to ‘talk to’ other software products you are using. This will guarantee you benefit from Big Data and it’ll make HR management a breeze.

3. Ensure your software scales

Scalability is a big thing and it’s especially important for SMEs. You won’t really benefit from cost-cutting if your chosen HR software is going to be unusable in a few years. Most UAE businesses are growing and if your HR software doesn’t scale, you might have to spend thousands on replacing it as your business grows. While the initial cost of scalable HR software might seem higher, in the long run, you’re going to benefit and save money.

Making the most of your HR software for SMEs

Now that you know how to find the right software and save money, you have to figure out the best use for it. HR software can save your business money in numerous ways and it’s important to use it to conduct the following functions:

1. Automate every HR function that you can

As mentioned at the start, it’s the automation aspect of HR software that can help your business save money. It’s important to choose HR software that’s able to automate those areas of HR that require a lot of time but not necessarily the full attention of the HR professional.

The best HR functions you must automate include:

The job application management

The onboarding process

The employee work hour and time-off management

The payroll management

For example, payroll and time-off management HR software for SMEs can reduce the time HR professionals spend on dealing with simple payroll input. There is no need for them to calculate or sort out holiday requests, as they will all be automated.

2. Cut down on paperwork and go digital

You also want to utilise the digital opportunities and cut down on paperwork as much as possible. Good HR software for SMEs will allow your business to use things like e-signatures, which reduce the need to have physical copies of documents. It’s important to use these when possible because they will have a huge cost-cutting impact on your business operations.

3. Introduce employee self-service

HR professionals often have to respond to employee queries that can seem mundane and rather easy to solve. Every time they do answer these questions on the phone or via e-mail, they lose valuable time doing work that is more impactful. Your HR software can free HR professionals from this burden and allow them to put their skills to best use – automated and self-service software will not only save a lot of time but also provide the employee with more autonomy. Instead of asking the HR professionals for input, employees can use software to check their own information, find answers to questions in databases and even deal with problems with chatbots.

4. Train and gain more knowledge

Another major way to use HR software for SMEs and to save money is by using it for training purposes. Good HR software will help your business train and educate the employees – during the onboarding process but also after it. Furthermore, the right software guarantees you have the right knowledge to operate. For example, payroll and employee time management software complies with the location’s labour laws and ensures your not breaking the law. In fact, compliance is one of the best things about HR software. You don’t constantly have to check that everything is OK as the software does all the thinking and checking for you. Train your employees to make use of the latest technologies and gadgets to save time & money.

The right HR software will save your business money

If you want to save money and make the most of your HR software, the opportunities are there for taking. You simply have to focus on selecting the right software and ensure you put your HR software to good use.

Mila Jones

Mila Jones is a Senior Business Consultant, with rich experience in the domains of technology consulting and strategy, she works with both established technology brands and market entrants to offer research inputs and insights on leveraging technology as a source of strategic competitive advantage. She is a prolific author and shares her expertise with tech enthusiasts on popular digital publishing platforms. She loves not only to write about several topics but also loves to explore new ideas about Lifestyle, Travel blogs and many more.